1 01 - Blurred Memories

Everything went blank and your vision is black. You don't know how much time had passed as you slowly drifted away. Then you heard the sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves.

What? Why do I hear birds chirping?? You thought as your hearing got clearer and more precise. You slowly opened your eyes to see a clear blue sky. The brightness was too bright for your eyes so you narrowed them until it was adjusted for a better view.

You slowly got up into a sitting position as you groaned. You're not sure if it's pain or something else but that is not the priority right now. You look around for a better view of your surroundings and it seems that you're in some sort of forest . . .?

You tried to stand up but it looks harder than you thought. Maybe you haven't been awake for some time? You don't know but there's only one way to find out.

After finally being able to stand for the nth time, you took a moment to take a look at yourself.

You wore a uniform with a clear blue stripe on your shoulders. Some parts of it were torn up and you don't seem to be wearing anything for your feet.

Your legs started to wobble because you just woke up and it looked like you hadn't been awake for who knows how long. You slowly took a step forward which became a success. Then another step but you slipped a bit. After taking small steps, you slowly managed to get used to it so you walked around the forest in a random direction until you found some sort of light on the other side.

You walked faster to the light and it got too bright for your eyes so you covered them with the back of your hand. When it's not bright anymore, you slowly opened your eyes to find a sandy beach and ocean.

You don't know why but just watching the vast ocean makes you feel mesmerized by the glistening waves crashing down. It made you feel drawn to it and slowly walked toward it but was snapped out of your daze when you noticed something nearby. Some sort of transport? You don't know.

When it got closer as you took a closer look, it was a ship with a mast of a symbol. It must have meant something if that is so important and the figurehead looks like a dog. Pretty weird if you ask.

While you're still processing what is happening, you didn't notice that the ship had already reached the shore and a very tall old man with a black suit jumps out of the ship.

"You there, little girl"

You jolted and snapped out of your thoughts. You looked around to see if he was talking to someone else but there isn't anyone but you. You raised your hand to point at yourself with a questioning look.

"Of course, I'm talking to you. Do you see anyone besides us here?"

You don't know how to answer that so you could only shrug.

"You. You're wearing a marine uniform. What's your rank?"

You raised a brow in confusion. What rank is he talking about?

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" the old man moved closer and you took a step back, wary of his presence.

"Why are you so wary? Do you at least know who I am?"

You don't know why but just sensing this old man, you felt that you should be wary and not let him get too close to you. Your face shows wariness and unsure and the old man can tell so he stopped.

The old man eyed you up and down. Your uniform is all torn and tattered up meaning you must have been attacked by the beasts of this island or by pirates that you've come across. Did you hit your head causing you to lose some of your memories? It's possible because all the marines should have recognized him at first glance and your body language says it all. He decided to change his approach to not scare you or raise your wariness.

He has to take you back to the headquarters to help you recover.

You noticed the sudden change in the old man and you took a few steps back until your back touches the tree causing you to wince in pain. The old man stopped in his tracks when he noticed your expression.

"Kid, are you injured? Let me see your injury" the old man walked closer to you and your head was blaring with alarms, telling you to get away from him. Even though you have no clue about what is going on.

Panic arises and the next thing that happened was the least expected. You thought you threw a big rock at him to slow him down but instead, you threw a whole fucking tree and it looked like you plucked it out of its roots. The old man's eyes widened and managed to block the unexpected attack but skidded back from the impact.

It took you a while to process what just happened and you thought that you screwed up as you internally screamed at yourself for your stupidity but what the old man did next was laughed out very loudly.

"Bwahaha!! Who would have thought you would be so strong!! You look so young yet so strong!! I wonder why you're not a high-ranking marine than a lower rank. Those old geezers must have made a mistake"

You were confused. He's not mad? You're not sure what to do with him. You wanted to say something but words didn't come out of your mouth. There's no way you forgot how to speak, right? He might think you're mute!!

"You're interesting!! What's your name, kid?" the old man asked.

You look down and thought, 'My name?'

You run through your head if you can remember. You should at least remember your name, right? That's when a certain flash hit you and you perked up.

"(First Name) . . ." you said softly but the old man can hear it.

"Your full name if you have any"

You think again. Nothing, just completely blank. "I don't remember . . ." you replied.

He nodded in understanding and grabbed the back of your collar to take you to his ship but not before he went to check on your back. His eyes widened in shock.

"Kid, how the hell are you still alive if you have this big of an injury?! You would have died by then!!"

"Huh?" you raised a brow, confused. Do you have an injury?

"Nevermind that. Just patch up before you tell me what happened. Oh, also. My name is Garp, just to let you know" he grinned.

You nodded in response and once you both got on the ship, Garp handed you to his subordinates to bandage your injuries and give you new clothes to freshen up.

With Garp, he called Sengoku.

"Hey, Sengoku. Once I'm done with my day off, I will be heading to Marineford to drop off one of our injured soldiers" Garp said through the Den Den Mushi.

"What are you talking about, Garp? They're not one of your men?"

"I found her on an island while I was on my way for a break. She looked so battered that she even lost her memories which is why she doesn't recognize me" Garp explained.

Sengoku groaned while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright. Can you tell me what is her name? She should at least remember her name"

"She said that her name is (First Name). Unfortunately, she doesn't remember her full name if she has any"

There was silence from the other side of the line.

"Sengoku? Why are you so quiet? Is something the matter?"

"Garp . . .that soldier . . .how is she alive?" Sengoku spoke up.

"Hm? I don't know. You know her?"

"She's-"

. . .

"WHAT?! AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS NOW?!" Garp shouted in shock and anger, slamming the table in the process.

"I had to!! I promised her that I will keep her daughter a secret from the World Government!!" Sengoku retorted.

"What are you saying? Usually, you aren't this lenient to let someone whose parents are infamous due to their reputation. Is it just because of-?"

"Garp. Don't"

Garp kept silent for a moment. Who would have thought . . .

"Then what should I do, Sengoku?"

"Keep her under your watch and don't let her presence get their attention" Sengoku ordered.

Then the call ended. Garp placed the receiver back on the Den Den Mushi and sighed.

'What the fuck just happened . . .'

________________________________________________________

After you changed and cleaned up, you were told that you would be eating with Garp in the dining hall.

The atmosphere felt suffocating and you didn't even get to have a piece of food. Plus your stomach is growling but you didn't dare move. The subordinates nearby also couldn't handle the atmosphere.

Garp then decided to speak up. He told you that he already got the gist of the situation so there's no need for you to explain yourself. You were relieved but at the same time curious. But you don't want to pry since it seemed that he won't tell you anyway.

"Do you know what is a marine, pirates, or the general knowledge of the world?" Garp asked.

You shook your head. "No . . .sir"

He then explained to you everything that even the common people know about this world. Pirates, Marines, the World Government, Devil Fruits, and finally the Celestial Dragons. That last part made you shiver and sweat profusely which made Garp furrow his eyebrows.

"What's wrong, kid? That last part made you all like this?"

"I . . .I don't know why, sir . . .just the mere mention of that name made me feel anxious" you replied.

"Alright. I won't say that name again" Garp reassured you and you calmed down a little. "Right now, you won't be going back to the headquarters for the time being. You'll be staying at Foosha Village on Dawn Island where the Goa Kingdom was there on the other side of the island which is where we are heading right now"

You nodded in response.

"And also, you'll be my new granddaughter"

There was silence for a while until everyone nearby including your eyes widened in shock.

.

.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH?!"